Automatic fluid-pressure machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I, A.. W. COLE.

AUTOMATIC FLUID PRESSURE MACHINE.

No. 575,702. Patented Jan. 26, 1597.

' wlTNEssEs': I y INVENTOR /Q/ff'l// @W6 Mm 011.808@

mak BY f// ATTORNEY (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. W. COLE.

AUTOMATIC FLUID PRESSURE MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 26, 1897.

-lNvENToR QM'UXY. @OHL I WITNEssEs :I A44/ff V,W5

SVV. 'e/{Cwwrv H/s ATTORNEY l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR WV. COLE7 OF BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO TI-IE AUTOHATIO PHOTOGRAPH MACHINE COMPANY,

OF IVEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC FLUID-PRESSURE lVIACHlN-E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,702, dated January 26, 1897.

I Application filed December 17, 1895. Serial No. 572,410. (No model.)

To all whom. it 11i/ty concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. COLE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fluid-Pressure Machines, of which the following is a full, clear,-

and exact description.

This invention relates to that class of machines commonly known as slot-machines, which are set in motion by the weight of a coin deposited on one end of a lever; and it consists in improvements in the motor for such apparatus and in the valve mechanism admitting huid-pressure to and exhausting it from the motor, the distributing-valves and the various cylinders transmitting motion to the other parts of the machine. Heretofore the power generally used in actuating both the machine, its motor, and the governing and distributing valves has been a weight or spring with a train of wheels.

The object of this invention is to lighten, cheapen, and simplify the motor for machines of the class referred to and to furnish simple and effective forms of control and distributing valvesadapted to manipulate iiuid-pressure with minimum leakage and to be auto` matically actuated by such pressure derived from a common source.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a sectional elevation of a portion of a coin-controlled machine, showing the reservoir or source of fluid-pressure, the coin-lever, the primary motor, the controlling-valve for the motor, and one of the distributing-valves with its actuating-cam. Fig. 2 shows a series of such distributingvalves, and Fig. 3 a series of supplementary motors for operating the various parts of the apparatus.

It is of course apparent that the particular functions of the machine herein described are unnecessary to a full and clear understanding of the improvements sought to be covered and hereinafter set forth. i

A represents a reservoir or source of fluidsupply, in or into which the actuating-Huid is compressed by any suitable means. Pipe a leads therefrom to valve B. This valve contains two pistons, of different areas, b and b2, secured to the same stem h3 and working in their respective cylinders b4 and b5. The smaller piston b is constantly open to reservoir-pressure through pipe A. Port b leads to the inner or left end of the motor-cylinder D, and 57 is a notch in the lug carried on piston-stem b3 and moving in a slot in cylinder b5.

O is the coin-lever, provided with a coinreceptacle at one end and a hook c on the other, said hook meshing with notch b'7 when the valve is in its normal position.

Motor-cylinder D contains piston d on its rod d. Piston d is returned to its inner position by means of linger d4, rigidly secured to its piston-rod d. Port cl2 is located near the outer end of cylinder D at a point where piston d will pass it in making its full stroke. Pipe d5 connects port cl2 to the inner or closed end of the larger valve-cylinder b5. Pistonrod d fits loosely in its guide in the cylinderhead through which it passes, so that no resistance may be encountered through compression of air between the piston CZ and the cylinder-head. Piston-rod d is provided with a rack on its upper face, at its outer end.

E represents the several distrib uting-valves with their actuating-cams. The cam-shaft e carries gear-wheel e', into which Ythe rack on piston-rod d meshes. One revolution of said cam-shaft is accomplished bythe full outward stroke of piston d and completes a single entire operation of the machine.

Valve F is a detail of each of the distributing-valves operated by cam-shaft e. From the connecting-pipe between port b6 and cylinder D pipe f is run to portf, furnishing fluid-pressure to the distributing-valves.

f2 is the piston of one of the distributingvalves shown. Port f3 and pipe f4 connect valve F with the supplementary-motorcylinder f5, the piston of which it governs. The

upper end of valve-case F is provided with exhaust-port f6.

The various supplementary motor cylinders are represented by f5 f5 f5, and any number of such supplementary motors, with their respective governing-valves, may of course be utilized, according to the varied requirements of the many forms of coin-actuated machines in common use.

The operation is as follows: Then a coin is deposited on the end of lever C, its weight tilt-s said lever, raising hook c out of notch 197, whereupon fluid-pressure from reservoir A, passing through pipe aand constantly against piston l), forces the latter, with its rod D and piston lf3, rigidly secured to the same rod1 to the opposite extremity of stroke, thus uncovering port Ui and allowing pressure to pass to motor-cylinder D and to force piston d to its outward limit. thus completing a single full operation of the machine, after which motorpiston d is automatically disengaged from eam-shaftcby means of a clutch on the camshaft (not herein shown) and is free to be returned to its inner position, ready for the next operation. This return movement is accomplished as follows: 1When piston d has completed il s outward movement, it uncovers port (Z2, allowing pressure in cylinder D to reach the inner side of piston 1; by pipe cZJ. The area of piston b2 being greater than that of b, it is evident that a pressure virtually equal to that constantly against piston l) will return both pistons to their first position. Piston d, as shown in the drawings, has completed its outward stroke, and the pressure from its cylinder has passed by port cl2 and pipe (Z3 to cylinder b5 and has forced piston bl to its outer position. Port b is thus open to the atmosphere, and pressure remaining in cylinder D escapes through said port past the pistonstem and the lug carried thereon and through the' slot in which said lug moves. The exhaust of pressure from the inner side of piston d permits the same to be returned to its inner position by weight di and finger d4. \Vhen piston-stem lf reaches its normal or left-hand position, as per drawings, hook c drops into notch 117, thus locking valve B in its normal position until a second coin is deposited on the opposite end of lever C.

Mechanism not herein shown automatically removes a deposited coin from lever C as soon as the latter is tilted by the weight of such coin, and, further, prevents a second coin being deposited thereon during the operation of the machine. Fluid-pressure in cylinder b5 is free to escape to atmosphere through pipe (Z3, port d?, and around the loosely-tting piston-rod (Z whenever piston (l is at or nearits inner position. The outward movement of piston-rod d rotates cam-shaft c, the cams on which are thereby moved and successively opcrate their respective valves. The initial movement of cam e2 releases piston-stem f8. The pressure which has passed by pipe to the lower side of piston fforces thelatter up, uncovering port f3 and passing by port f3 and pipe f4 to its supplementary motorand actuatin the piston of such supplementary motor. The completerevolution of cam e2 forces down stem f8 and valve j', thus allowing fluidpressure to escape from motor f5 by pipe f4 and ports f3 and f6 to the atmosphere. Each of the cams on shaft e, with their respective valves and supplementary motors, is operated in this manner, and thus the several movements necessary to a single complete operation of the machine are effected, and the entire apparatus is returned to its normal condi tion, ready for another operation.

Any suitable form of reservoir for lluidpressure, or method of obtaining such pressure, or mode of locking the governing-valve, or of returning motor-piston d to its inner position, or of performing the'various functions of the machine by the mechanism actuated by the several supplementary motors, may of course be utilized without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I limit myself to no particular form of apparatus in either of these details.

lleretofore in all automatically-operatcd coin-controlled machines with which I have become familiar the motive power employed to actuatc both the motor, its controllingvalve, and the distributing-valves has been a weight and train of wheels, and in most cases this source of power has been employed to move the entire machine.

By utilizing a Huid under pressure for the source of power, actuating both the motor, its controlling-valve, the distributingvalves, and the supplementary motors, I claim to have materially reduced the total weight of a machine of the class referred to to such a point as will enable it to be easily handled in transportation, thus obviating a serious objection heretofore prevailing when its value from a commercial standpoint is considered.

My invention further decreases the cost of maintenance'of such machines and increases their capacity as to the number of consecutive operations possible Without manual attention. The distributing-valves heretofore employed have been of the plug type. This form of valve has been found highly objectionable in practice because of the opportunities it presents for leakage of fluid-pressure. The present form of piston-valve, with its operating mechanism, greatly enhances the simplicity and automatism of this part of the apparatus and almost entirely prevents leakage. These advantages are also evident in the construction of the governing-Valve.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination of a reservoir, a motor, a valve controlling communication between same and comprising two pistons of different areas on a common stem, an independent supplemental motor, and a valve governed bythe main motor and controlling said supplemental motor, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a reservoir for fluidpressure, a main motor, a valve controlling communication between the same and com prising two pistons of different areas on a common stem, an independent supplemental motor, a shaft rotated by the main motor,

ICO

IIC

and a valve operated by said shaft and governin g said supplemental motor, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a reservoir for fluidpressure, a main motor, a valve comprising two pistons of dilerent areas,a passage connecting said reservoir and main motor and controlled by one piston of said valve, an escape-port for said main motor leading to the other piston of said valve, a supplemental motor, and a valve operated by the main motor and controlling the supplemental motor, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a reservoir, a motor operated by Huid-pressure, a valve for controlling communication between the said reservoir and motor, and which consists of-tWo pistons having different areas, a detent for locking the valve which when released will permit the valve automatically to open communication between the reservoir and the motor, and a passage-Way opened by the movement of the motor, to the fluid-pressure, thereby eecting a return of the valve to the position in which it is locked by the detent, substantially as specied.

5. The combination of a reservoir for fluidpressure, a main motor, a valve governing communication between them and containing two pistons of different areas on a single stem, a coin-actuated detent for said valve, an exhaust-port for said main motor controlled by its piston and leading to said valve, a series of supplemental motors, and a series of distributing-valves governing said supplemental motors and operated by the main motor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ARTHUR W. COLE.

Witnesses:

ANTHONY GEEF, WM. A. PoLLocK. 

